The Enigmatic Fate of Leonardo's Salvator Mundi
Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the Salvator Mundi is a contentious piece created between 1490 and 1519, showing Christ as Pantocrator. On November 15, 2017, it fetched $450.3 million at Christie's New York, setting a record as the highest auction price for a painting. The purchaser is thought to be Saudi Prince Badr bin Abdullah, acting on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Although it was anticipated to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in September 2018 and featured in the Louvre's 2019 exhibition, this did not occur. The artwork may have been evaluated in Paris and identified as belonging to Saudi Arabia. Its sale history includes £75 in 1958, $1,175 in 2005, and $75 million in 2013, with speculation it is housed in a Zurich freeport.
Key facts
- Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, oil on walnut panel, 66 x 46 cm, dated 1490–1519.
- Sold at Christie's New York on November 15, 2017, for $450.3 million.
- Buyer believed to be Prince Badr bin Abdullah for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- Expected at Louvre Abu Dhabi in September 2018 and Louvre Paris in 2019 but never exhibited.
- Possibly analyzed at Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France and attributed to Leonardo.
- Sale history: £75 (1958), $1,175 (2005), $75 million (2013), $450.3 million (2017).
- Rumored to be in a Zurich freeport, according to restorer Dianne Dwyer Modestini.
- Article discusses inelastic demand for unique luxury goods.
Entities
Artists
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Caprotti (Salaì)
- Cesare da Sesto
- Giampietrino
- Marco d'Oggiono
- Wenceslaus Hollar
Institutions
- Christie's
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Louvre
- Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France
- Ministero della Cultura del Regno dell’Arabia Saudita
- Washington Post
- The Economist
- Artribune
- Royal Collection at Windsor Castle
Locations
- New York
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Geneva
- Paris
- Istanbul
- Rockefeller Center
- Abu Dhabi
- London